Dr. William (Bill) W. Ehret, 85, of Centralia, passed away on Friday, Sept. 5, 2014 at Providence Centralia Hospital.
Bill was born to the late Arthur and Mildred Ehret on Oct. 22, 1928 in Centralia, Washington. He graduated from the University of Washington School of Dentistry in 1956 and went on to serve for four years in the U.S. Army’s general dispensary on the west coast of France. After traveling and attending the Rome Olympics he returned to the states and was a family dentist in his hometown for the following 50 plus years.
Bill will be remembered for his many hours in the garden and was especially fond of breeding rhododendrons. He enjoyed his weekly trips to Federal Way to volunteer at the Rhododendron Species Foundation and Botanical Garden.
He was a member of the Elks Lodge and also enjoyed photography, travel, family genealogy and regular coffee time with friends. Bill was often heard whistling a tune as he pursued his hobbies.
Bill is survived by his sister, Mary Jean Baumhofer of Portland; nieces, Laura (Mark) Worden of Corvallis, Oregon, Janet (Gary) Buskuhl of Tualatin, Oregon; and nephew William Scott Baumhofer of Portland, Oregon. He had a special bond with his sister and niece, Janet as the three of them shared the same birthday. Bill is also survived by three great-nephews, Daniel, Nathan and Joshua Worden.
To honor Bill’s love of rhodies, the family requests memorial donations be made to the Rhododendron Species Foundation and Botanical Garden, P.O. Box 3798, Federal Way, WA 98063 or online at http://rhodygarden.org/cms/donate/.
Please remember Bill in your own special way as no public service is planned. The family is especially grateful to the close friends who checked on and cared for Bill in his final days.
